Gas main stopper



Aug. 24, 1943. v. E. ANKARLO GAS MAIN STOPPER Filed May 2, 1941 Viczoa' if A nkarlo INVENTOR.

Ma Armewy Patented Aug. 24, 194-3 UNITED STATES iDTENT OFFICE GAS MAIN srorrna V Victor E. Ankarlo, Hammond, at. s Application 2, 1941, Serial No. 391.583

lClaims. (Cl. 13894) This invention has as itsprincipal object the provision of improvements in gas main stoppers of the type including a diaphragm which is in serted into the pipe and expanded to block the main gas flow, and which is further provided with pneumatically expansible means inflated, when the stopper is in position, to provide a complete seal around the edges thereof, with the particular object of filling irregular spaces and rough casti'ng' formations existing on the interior of such pipes so that the seal is complete.

iinother and more specific object is the'provision of an improved expansible frame on which the flexible diaphragm of the stopper is mounted.

A further object is the provision of a combination coupling and handle mounting. the coupling including means for connection with a compressed air line or pump, and a pivoted handle element adapted to be manipulated in Working the stopper into the main.

Still another object is the provision of roller means on the coupling and handle attachment for facilitating the manipulation of the stopper into position in the main;

Yet another object is the provision of an improved mounting for a pneumatic tube around the rim of an ,expansible frame, together wit improved means for attaching an expansiole diaphragmover the tube to said frame.

It ,is a further object of this invention to provide a novel arrangement of spring and rubber frame which will coact toproduce a uniformexpension and aridged body capable of withstanding the twist created by pipe pressure.

A still further object relates tothe provision of a telescopic-brace member on the expansible frame, a part of which brace member is adjustably mounted in. the coupling member to provide an air connection between the pneumatic coupling means and the expansible tube on the frame structure, together with means for adjustingsaid telescopic member to clamp the tube into sealing engagement therewith,

Other objects, advantages and novel aspects of the invention reside in certain details of construction as well as the cooperative relationship of the component parts of the illustrative embodiment described hereinafter in view of the annexed drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary section through a gas main showing my new stopper in operative position with respect thereto; p

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional detail, partly in elevation, as seen from line. 2-2 in Fig.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional detail of the head portion of the stopper as seen from line 3+3 in Fig.2; 1 y

Fig. l is a vertical sectional detail through the lower portion of the stopper as seen from line l l in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective View illus, trating the arrangement of the inflatable tube on the frame at the head portion of the stopper;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view partly in section illustrating the arrangement at the lower portion of the stopper p h Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional detail through the periphery of my new stopper; and v Fig. 8 is a. force diagramconcerning the new stopper.

' Referring to the drawing, the stopper is adapted to be used in cutting off flowage through a pipe generally indicated at 1!] (Fig. 1) having a small opening H cut in its top area so as to permit the introduction of the stopper into the pipe. The stopper is indicated at l2 and constitutes a frame structure It which is normally adapted to assume an oval shape, as seen in Fig. 2 and is constructed such that it may be forced into a substantially circular shape in a manner later to be described.

The expansible frame It consists of a pair of spaced shackle members M generally channeled shaped and each of these shackles has extending therefrom at right angles to the oval, a tubular member it. These tubular members are preferably square in cross-section and are so construct-' ed as to be telescopically arranged with respect to each other, as seen in Fig. 2, to form a center strut member. The frame structure'further consists of a pair of spring elements It, each of which has its end portions pivotally connected as at W to an upper and lower shackle member it. As will be noted in Fig, 2, the springs it are so characterized as to normally bias the frame structure l3 into a substantially oval shape.

Each of the spring members it are preferably the'leaf'type having a plurality of leaf spring elements graduating in length so as to strengthen the spring IS in itsmid-section. The individual leaves it of the spring IG' are normally clipped together by winding a wire element 45 about the assembly at certain intervals, each clip being welded to the main spring element It while permitting the other leaves to move freely. Each of the'spring members I6 is encased within the rubber coating I8, which coating is molded around thespring proper while the rubber is in a plastic state. The spring element it having first been brass plated so that the plastic rubber will adhere to the metallic spring to produce a relatively monolithic structure. The coating I 3 .extends the full length of the spring l6 and has one surface, the outside with respect to the frame, recessed or concaved as at l9 to provide a seat for a pneumatic tube 20 which is arranged around the periphery of the frame in a manner now to be described.

The inflatable. tube 20 has one end portion thereof sealed up as at 2| and in assembling the tube 20 on the frame thesealed end 21 is inserted through an opening 22 formed in the upper strut element l and is passed up through the hollow member through an opening in the web M of the upper shackle M. The tube is then arranged around the frame so that the sealed end portion 2! overlaps a portion of the tube 20 as illustrated in Fig. 5.

Each of the channels 14 is provided with a rubber filler l8" which is adapted to support the a tube 20 in its relative position about the periphery of the stopper member.

A diaphragm 23 is then stretched upon the frame l3 and this diaphragm is preferably constructed of impervious material such as rubber. The diaphragm ?.3 is mounted'upon the frame so as to span the area circumscribed by the peripheral edge thereof, and the edges of the diaphragm are folded'around the peneumatic tube and spring assembly aswell as the shackle arrangement, and the free edges of the diaphragm are vulcanized as at 24 to the inner face of the diaphragm. The edge portion of the diaphragm which surrounds the shackle elements [4 is anchored in place by a plate 25 having a screw connection as at 26 with. one of the flanges of the channel- |4 to assure a flrm'grip upon the diaphragm and to prevent te'aring of the rubber element at an opening 2'! provided therein where it fits around the strut l5 extending from the channel l4.

Another feature of the mense relates to l the lever attachment for positioning the diaphragm within the pipe I3. This leverage comprises a lon manipulating handle 28 which has its end portion pivotally arranged as at 29 in a trunnion SUfOrmed, at the lower end of the lowermost strut l5. Th'e trunnion 33 further providing a mounting as at 3! for a gliding means in the form of a roller 32. The other lever means is indicated at 33 as has its inner end portion pivotally connected as at 34 to the upper end of the uppermost. strut member [5. This lever 33 is provided with a series of tooth formations 3'5 and extends from and forms an integral part of the hand pump 36.

In the operation of the device, the stopper is normally in the oval or collapsed position illus trated in Fig. 2 and after the hole H has been cut into the pipe 10,. the stopper isinserted through the opening I l with the handle and lever 28-33 pivoted into alignment with the long axis of the'oval frame l3. The lever 33 is then arranged with'on'e of the tooth formations 35 engaging the edge of the opening I! so that the upper portion of thestopper I2 is adapted to engage the upper inner surface of the pipe If], the pivotal connection 34 of the lever to the frame l3 forms a fulcrum and the'lower end portion of the stopper is then pulled to the left sition shown in'Fig. l. The roller 32 relieving 17 any frictional engagement of the lower edge of the stopper with the inner surface of the pipe. When the stopper has been positioned as aforesaid, the tube 20 is inflated through the medium of the pump 36 which has connection with the freely extending section 20 of the pneumatic sure exceeding a maximum load and at the same time forms a release valve whereby the, air

may be released from the pneumatic tube when it is desired to deflate the latter.

As shown in the diagrammatic illustration, Fig. 8, the diaphragm 23 forms a Wall which is acted upon by the pressure from within the gas main, which pressure is uniform in pounds per square inch over the entire circular area of the diaphragm The inflated tube 20 causes-the peripheral surface of the rubberdiaphragmto engage the'inner surface of the pipe I!) and to seat into the small sand mold depressions,

usually found in the type of pipe used in gas mains, to prevent any leakage of the fluidwithinthe pipe. It will be noted from the force diagram that by reason'of the forces acting upon the diaphragm there is a tendency for the frame structure in and about the spring sections IE to rotate in the direction of the arrows. 7 this end that the rubber coating formed about the springs it acts as a reinforcing agent which prevents a twisting of the springs 16 in 'their medial portion so that at-all times there will be a definite engagement of the peripheral edge of the stopper against the inner wall of' the pipe In.

It will be noted that the wireelements are.

fixed to but one of theleaf spring members 46 so as to bind the several leaf springs together and yet permit longitudinal movement of each spring leaf with respect to the main spring "3.. By the same token it will be noted that the free ends of the wire elements are looped with embracing the concavityxl9 are reinforced pe riodically to transmit any rotational torque in the direction of the arcuate arrows (Fig. 8), into the main spring members 16.

The rubber coating formed upon the springs I6 in addition to acting as a reinforcing agent for thesesprings also adds to the strengthof.

the spring. That is to say, the spring has a tendency to return to a normal position against any outer force which acts to bias the spring; The resilient rubber coating 18 formed around the spring adds to this force which tends to return the spring to a normal position. These two forces acting together cause a spreading of the upper and lower edges of the stopperso that when the stopper is manipulated into the position shown in Fig. 1 by the handle and lever the spring will be biased into a circular form with the peripheral edges of the stopperbearing against the inner walls'of the p'ipe'even though the pneumatic tube Thus it is seen, that the spring members have It is to.

20 has not been inflated.

a normal bearing relationship on the inner walls of the pipe to maintain the diaphragm in its position and that by reason of the inflation of the pneumatic tube there is an added bearing force against the inner wall of the pipe which may be increased in proportion to the air pres sure caused by the fluid within the pipe.

The various advantages and objects of the invention may be accomplished by modifications of the particular embodiment specifically described herein, and it is intended that the appended claims shall include all equivalent arrangements fairly coming within their call.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a gas main stopper, a frame structure comprising oppositely disposed shackles, means extending from each of said shackles and adapted to be telescopically arranged with respect to each other, spring means pivotally connected at their ends to said shackles and being normally biased to cause said frame to assume an approximately oval shape, a coating of flexible material surrounding said spring means and having its outer surface recessed to form a concaved seat, pneumatic means arranged in said seat and completely circumscribing said frame structure and having one end portion extending through one of said shackles and the means extending therefrom to a point exteriorly of said stopper, and an elastic diaphragm carried by said frame structure and including portions extended over said pneumatic means to be urged by the latter, upon inflation, into sealing engagement with the inner surface of a pipe.

2. In a gas main stopper, an expansible frame comprising oppositely disposed shackles, means extending from each of said shackles and adapted to be telescopically arranged with respect to each other, spring means pivotally connected at their ends to said shackles, said expansible frame being normally biased into approximately oval shape, a coating of flexible material surrounding said spring means and having its outer surface recessed to form a concaved seat, pneumatic. means arranged in said seat and completely cir-' cumscribing said spring means and said shackles and having one end portion extending through one of said shackles and the means extending therefrom, to a point exteriorly of said stopper,

and an elastic diaphragm carried by said expansible frame and including portions extended over said pneumatic means to be urged by the latter, upon inflation, into sealing engagement with the inner surface of a pipe, said diaphragm being adapted to withstand internal pressure in said pipe, said coating of flexible material reinforcing said spring means against the torque created by said pressure.

3. In a gas main stopper including a frame structure comprising oppositely disposed shackles joined for movement toward and away from each other by a telescopic strut and spring means pivotally connected at their ends to said shackles to normally bias the frame into an oval shape together with pneumatic means arranged about said oval shaped frame and an elastic diaphragm carried on said frame for closing off a gas main, the provision of an anti-torque foundation for said frame and comprising, in combination, a coating of flexible material molded upon said spring means, a seat formation in the outer surface of said coating and adapted to receive said pneumatic means and to maintain the latter in alignment with said spring means.

4. In a gas main stopper including a frame structure comprising oppositely disposed shackles joined for movement toward and away from each other by a telescopic strut and spring means pivotally connected at their ends to said shackles to normally bias the frame into an oval shape together with pneumatic means arranged about said oval shaped frame and an elastic diaphragm carried on said frame for closing off gas mains, the provision of an antitorque, foundation for said frame adapted to prevent lateral movement of said stopper when the frame is set in stopping relation with respect to a gas main, said anti-torque foundation comprising bond elements surrounding said spring means at intervals and having a portion thereof aflixed to the latter and portions thereof extending toward the outer periphery of said frame, a coating of flexible material molded upon said spring means and bond elements and having a concaved trough formed in the outside face thereof to provide a seat for said pneumatic means, said bond element reinforcing said concaved trough and transmitting torque exerted thereon to said spring means.

VICTOR E. ANKARLO. 

